Shielded claw wrench



United States Patent 0 3,482,476 SHIELDED CLAW WRENCH Marcello M.Tanksley, 5700 Highland Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63112 Filed Oct. 16, 1967,Ser. No. 675,590 Int. Cl. B25b 13/00; B67b 7/00 US. Cl. 81-3.42 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE bers having a pair of medially disposedopenings provided therethrough respectively, for accommodating said earstherein selectively. One of said jaws being affixed in lateral relationwith a extensible portion of the plunger shaft, and the other said jawbeing afiixed with the plunger sheath. Slide pin means provided inaffixed relation with the plunger shaft and in proximity with the innerend of said hand-hold, for manually extending the plunger shaft jaw inrespect to the fixed position of the sheath jaw, for complementing thecircumference of said cap closure, in a manner whereby the ears thereofwill be disposed in slidable releasably secure relation with said claw,as when said ears are co-axially aligned with the openings of the formerrespectively; thereby said cap closure will be enabled to movesimultaneously with the tool, as when wrenched in either direction ofrotation, and hand shielding means disposed in adjustable slidablerelation with said sheath, and surrounding relation with both saidhandhold and said slide pin; thereby an operators selective hand whenclutching said hand-hold will be enabled to manipulate said slide pinand said tool respectively, within an abnormal atmospheric aircondition, as when said condition is created by a steam cloud egressingfrom the open mouth of said container, or from exposure to the gammarays emitted by a radium source stored within said container, in asafeguard manner.

This invention relates to a tool for use by laboratory technicians,mechanics, service station attendants, and as well as by others, wherebythe tool serves to facilitate the removal of container closures whenmanipulated at a respective distance therefrom, and more particularly toa tool for threadably removing or securing, from or onto respectively, acertain type closure associated with a container having a relativelyfixed position thereby precluding accidental contact by the user with avolatile product stored within the container.

The invention comprising a pair of opposed identically sector shapedclamping jaws thereby defining a claw, having one jaw fixedly secured tothe extremity of an elongated handle and the other jaw axially movabletherefrom, with the invention residing in the cooperation of the jawswhereby they are adapted to span varying diameters of certain type screwthreaded closures having a pair of diametrically opposed lateral ears,releasably engageable with the jaws whereby they may either be removedor secured selectively from or onto respectively, containers havingcomplementary threaded openings, in a manner remotely removed from thecontainer by the use of a users single hand.

The main object of my invention is to provide a shielded claw wrench forsafe-guarding a users hand as when removing or securing a closure fromor onto respectively, a container serving to store a volatile liquidtherein.

A further object of my invention is to provide the means in a shieldedclaw wrench which may be adapted to either threadably remove or secure,from or onto respectively a certain type threaded closure for acontainer having a relatively fixed position spaced remotely from theoperator by the use of a single hand thereof.

A still further object of my invention is to provide the meansassociated with a shielded claw wrench, whereby the wrench will have amechanical advantage to that served by the operators selective hand orhands, either in threading or unthreading a certain type closure, fromor onto respectively, a container having a relatively fixed position,whereby the closure when secured in use may be properly sealed with thecomplementary opening thereof, and conversely easily removed therefrom.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andthe operation thereof, as henceforth described and claimed, withreference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,and in which: 7

FIGURE 1 is a view in longitudinal section substantially mediallytherealong.

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation shown in perspective with certainouter portions removed whereby revealing certain inner elements ofconstruction, and further the view exemplifies a specific use for thetool.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have therein disclosed a preferred embodiment of myinvention, in which I employ an elongated tubular shank or handle 10having a rectangular cross section and also a substantially elongatedslot 18 formed through the top wall thereof, adjacent one end portiontherewith, and disposed at the opposite end thereof in dependingrelation with the lower wall thereof is provided a substantiallysemi-circular sector element or jaw 11 which is weldingly secured at 12with the handle 10 in transverse relation therewith, and formed with anintermediate body portion of the jaw 11 and in concentric relationtherewith therethrough is provided a recess 13 for the reason of ahenceforth described purpose.

Co-axially aligned with the jaw 11 and disposed in opposed relationtherewith there is provided an identical jaw 15 that is adapted to bespanned forwardly the fixed jaw 11, as when weldingly secured at 16 withthe outer extremity of an extensible end portion of a shaft 14 which isadapted for an inner reciprocal fit with the tubular handle 10. Themovable jaw 15 is normally biased to abut the fixed jaw 11 at theirrespective radially opposed vertical edges by the expansion means servedby the helical coil spring 28 which surrounds the inner extensible endportion 25 associated with the shaft 14 in which the extensible endportion 25 has been reduced into circular configuration having athreaded end portion 26 on which is threaded a locking nut 29 whichserves to compress the spring 28 against the head washer 27 which isdisposed in surrounding relation with the shaft end portion 25 and inabutting relation with the vertical terminal portion at the inner end ofthe handle whereby providing an adjustable resilient clamping actionbetween the previously described vertical edges of both the jaw memberwith the jaw member 11 and thereby defining a claw which is actuatedremotely from the opposite end of the handle 10 as by the projecting pin23 which passes slidably through the slot 18 atthe upper portionthereof, and which is threadedly secured at 24 within a transverseportion of the shaft 14 in a manner whereby the pin will be disposed atthe inner end of the slot as when the jaw members 11 and 15 are disposedin their resting position.

Serving to surround the spring 28 and extensible from the free end ofthe saft member 14 there is provided a hollow handhold 30 which isprovided with the integral closure 30 at one end thereof, with theopposite end being adapted to be detachably secured with the free endportion of the handle 10 as by the pair of opposed slot headed threadedscrews which are accommodated to pass slidably and diametrically thewalls of the handhold 30 and threadedly engage the accommodatingapertures which transverse a pair of opposed walls associated with thehandle 10.

Serving to safeguard a users hand, as when manipulating the claw wrenchfor either removing or securing a certain type screw threaded closurehaving a pair of opposed lateral ears, from or onto respectively, acontainer from which a dangerous vapor may be emitted there is for thispurpose provided a hand shield 19 which constitutes a conoid shellhaving an integral collar 20 provided with the apex thereof that isadapted to be detachably secured to the handle 10 by the slot headedthreaded screw 21 which is accommodated slidably to pass transverselythrough the collar 20 and to be threadedly secured at 22 with the handle10, whereby the fixed positioning of the hand shield 19 provides a meansfor encompassing the users hand.

In the operation and use of my device for which purpose I have selectedthe radiator 33 as may be associated with an automotive vehicle notshown, and which radiator may be under pressure by the boiling action offluid stored therein, it therefore being obvious to remove the closure34 having diametrically opposed lateral ears 35 constitutes a conditionwhereby serious injury can be inflicted on the attendant servicing theradiator, as when removing the closure therefrom in a manner adjacentthereto, however this past practice can now be avoided by the use of mydevice, as when the attendant grasps the shielded claw wrench within aselective hand by the means of the hand hold and inwardly the shield 19and by applying a pushing force on the pin 23 he is therefore enabled tospan the jaws 11, and 15 outwardly the extremities of the cars wherebyreleasing his thumb from the pin 23 will automatically spring theconverging movement of the jaws 11, and 15 on the opposed peripheralsectors of the closure 34 and simultaneously over-ride the adjacent ears35, and by a slight twist applied on the remote end of the handle 10generally in a counter-clockwise direction the closure 34 can beinstantly lifted from the radiator 33, in releasably secured relationtherewith, and conversely the heated closure 34 can be reassembled ontothe service opening of the radiator 33 by a reverse rotatable actionapplied on the handle 10, and further to remove the tool from theclosure 34, the previously described spanning operation relative to thejaws 11, and 15 is repeated.

It is believed that the advantages and use of my invention will beclearly apparent from the aforegoing disclosure and accordingly, furtherdescription thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction and arrangement of the parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A radiator closure cap wrench requiring but a single selective handof an operator for the use and operation thereof, comprising incombination, a pair of companion jaw members defining therewith a clawwhen disposed in opposed relation, each said jaw provided with anarcuately shaped face gripping portion interposing vertical sideportions, and in transverse relation with an upwardly converging topportion, an elongated tubular shank defining a handle provided with arectangular cross section having one wall secured laterally to the apexof one said jaw at the forward terminal portion thereof, said jaw havingits radius of curvature extending forwardly therefrom, an elongatedshaft defining a plunger having a greater length then said handle, saidplunger adapted for slidable and guided movement inwardly of saidhandle, said plunger having its forward extensible terminal portionsecured laterally with the apex of the other said jaw whereby said jawis adapted to move axially from the fixed jaw, a tubular hand-holdhaving a circular cross section provided with one open end, said endhaving a terminal portion adapted to be detachably secured on the innerterminal end portion of said handle and in surrounding relation with theopposite extensible end of said plunger, a push pin projecting laterallyfrom the said plunger and adapted to ride slidably within a longitudinalslot formed through said handle, said slot extending forwardly of saidhand-hold, said push pin adapted to effect the opening of said claw forspanning a circular closure, when urged forwardly in the saidlongitudinal slot, means for latching said claw onto the diametricallyopposed ears of a radiator cap closure spaced radially thereabout forremotely wrenching said closure from or onto respectively, the serviceopening of a radiator, means cooperating with the first said means forresiliently securing said closure within said claw, and means for vaporshielding the manipulating hand of an operator when lifting said closurefrom the opening of an overheated liquid container.

2. As claimed in claim 1; wherein the means for latching said claw ontothe diametrically opposed lateral ears of a radiator cap closure, saidears being equally spaced radially therewith; comprises a pair ofrectangular slots, each being formed in a respective jaw membertherethrough, and in concentric alignment therewith, whereby each slotwill be adapted to over-ride slidably an adjacent said ear, as when saidjaws are retracted on the peripheral radial and opposed sectors of saidclosure.

3. As claimed in claim 1; wherein the means cooperating with the firstsaid means for resiliently securing said closure within said claw;comprises a helical coil spring disposed in surrounding relation withthe inner intermediate extensible end portion of said plunger, saidintermediate end portion being circular in cross section and having athreaded terminal end portion adapted to threadably secure thereon alocking nut; said spring having one end thereof disposed in abuttingrelation with the inner face of a washer, disposed slidably on saidcircular portion of said plunger having its opposite face in abuttingrelation with the transverse terminal portion of said handle, saidspring being slidably secured in adjustable relation therewith, as bythe forward threading of said locking nut into abutting relation withthe opposite end of said spring whereby articulating said jaw members bythe medium of said plunger, as when said push force is released fromsaid push pin.

4. As claimed in claim 1; wherein the means for vapor shielding themanipulating hand of an operator when lifting said closure from theopening of an over-heated liquid container, comprises a conoid shelladapted to circumpose an operators hand, as when disposed in clutchingrelation with the hand-hold of said tool, said shell having an integralcollar at the apex thereof, said collar being adapted to be detachablysecured in sur- 5 rounding relation with said handle forwardly of thelongitudinal slot thereof, and in spaced eircumposed relation about saidpush pin as when manually extended therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,451,042 4/1923 Johnson 294-342,625,848 1/1953 Davies et al. 81-345 2,694,330 11/1954 Davies et a1.81345 6 3,261,242 7/1966 Peters. 3,342,090 9/1967 Martin 81-3.42 X

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner 5 ROSCOE V. PARKER, JR., AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

